NEWS FROM NASFAA

"For decades, the federal Pell Grant program has provided much-needed financial assistance to students around the country who struggle to pay for a college education. Each year nearly eight million students -- the majority of whom come from extremely low-income backgrounds -- benefit from those funds. Yet the program is again under attack in federal spending proposals," NASFAA's Megan Coval writes in an opinion piece for Inside Higher Ed.

Institutions impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma can request an extension of the October 1 gainful employment reporting deadline through their school participation team, according to a stakeholder call held by Federal Student Aid (FSA) on Friday. Visit the Department of Education's (ED) Hurricane Help page for links to federal resources, the latest information from FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, and other information for those impacted by the storms.

A group of more than three dozen Democratic lawmakers on Friday sent a letter urging Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to reverse her decision to end a data-sharing agreement between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Education (ED).

The very popular NASFAA U Verification course starting October 17 is full. A waitlist is available for that class, or you may register for the next Verification course which begins Jan. 16, 2018. This class will likely reach capacity as well. Don’t wait, register now.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The COD Processing Update provides information related to COD System processing and includes the following sections: COD News and Updates, Current Issues (with a subsection for All Programs, Direct Loans, and Grants), and Reminders.

HEADLINES

National News

"Changes made last year to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid led to new behaviors both intended and unintended by students and colleges and universities, according to survey results and other data presented at a Friday session during the National Association for College Admission Counseling's national conference," Inside Higher Ed reports.

"Students lose nearly half of the college credits they earn transferring from one school to another, placing them at risk of exhausting federal grants and loans to repeat courses, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office Wednesday," The Washington Post reports.

"Following in the footsteps of every president since Jimmy Carter, President Trump signed an executive order in February pledging his commitment to historically black colleges and universities. But Trump, who won only a sliver of black voters last fall, took it a step further, inviting dozens of leaders from these institutions into the Oval Office for a meeting that raised hopes that he may bring more federal attention — and funding — to their schools," according to the Los Angeles Times.

"A giant financial services company is betting that young people care as much — if not more — about their employers paying off their student loans as they do about paying for retirement," Buzzfeed reports.

State News

"Christina Broussard was trapped in her grandmother's living room for three days during Hurricane Harvey. Rain poured through the ceiling in the bathrooms and bedrooms. Broussard's a student at Houston Community College," according to NPR.